Hello, Arknights

"The rain is gradually easing..." Adjutant Bruce looked at Dacita, "We are moving away from the disaster area."

"No trace of the monster has been found yet...Sir."

Dashita stared silently at the path ahead that was wiped out by the mudslide. During the disaster, the disaster area had a slow shift of nearly one thousand meters. It was now difficult for them to determine whether the monster was on the other side of the mudslide. Although the mudslide had stopped, they could not cross the landslide area in a short time.

What's more, black substances were gradually growing on the ruined area, and the dangerous crystalline luster made him hesitate.

Bruce didn't know what to do. The existence of the monster itself was a threat to the surrounding residents, but it was obviously unwise to search the landslide without any basis.

Just as Dacita was hesitating, the personnel searching at the edge of the landslide made a new discovery: "Report to the commander, we found traces of monsters!"

Upon hearing this, the two men quickly rushed to the scene, only to see a huge cave entrance that was mostly buried by the mudslide and the inside could not be seen clearly. However, a row of huge footprints led directly into the cave not far away. The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment, as they had already suffered psychological trauma from the killing of this monster.

Dashita's subordinates all looked at him with inquiring eyes. He was silent for a while with a solemn expression and spoke in a hoarse voice:

"Have you explored the road conditions inside?"

"Report, the investigation team has conducted a fifty-meter-deep exploration of the cave. Most of the interior space has been filled by mudslides. The road section under investigation is only wide enough for three people to walk side by side, and the road conditions are muddy."

"Strange, how did it get into such a narrow space?" Bruce looked at the footprints and saw that the shape and size were indeed those of the monster.

"Maybe that's why it can't escape." Dashita guessed something, "Or maybe it was trapped in the mudslide."

After hearing what his superior said, Bruce understood that this bastard was unable to get out after entering the cave because of the sudden mudslide that blocked the entrance.

"Are you guys ready?" In the swaying rain, Dashita wanted to take out a cigarette from his pocket and light it, but he remembered that he never brought cigarettes with him when he went out.

The soldiers did not speak, but they all picked up their weapons and suppressed their fear.

"...leave two-thirds of the people behind," Dashita took off his protective gear and threw his mask aside. Cold rain continued to slide down his expressionless face, "Contact the Storm Commandos and pick us up."

The soldiers were silent. They didn't know what kind of "support" was being referred to. They only knew that they were vulnerable in front of that monster.

"No one knows if there are other exits in this cave. That bastard should still be inside... At least I have to go." Dashita checked his sword and found it was still usable.

The soldiers whispered for a while, and soon they sent the corresponding people to stay behind. At this time, threatening roars were heard in the cave.

Without saying a word, Dacita was the first to step into the muddy cave, followed by Bruce and others.

"Turn on the lights." Beams of light shone out from the narrow passage, and Dashita found that the interior of the cave where the passage led to became empty. The target they were chasing was lying in the middle of the empty cave. When he heard the sound of the intruder, his scarlet eyes opened again.

"Open fire!" With the monster's roar shaking the cave, Dashita took the lead and charged towards the monster.

They were not as elite and powerful as the Storm Commandos, but the monster in front of them was only breathing its last breath. Even if they were hit by Dashita, their flesh and blood would fly like their dead comrades, but they had already stood in front of the monster.

Their comrades continued to die, but the monsters' killing did not diminish despite their awareness.

"Kill!" The comrade next to him was killed by a claw. Dashita risked his life to jump onto the monster's back in the flickering vision and stabbed a knife into the monster's carotid artery!

"Roar!!" Almost the next moment, Dashita was thrown out. The world was spinning in front of his eyes and his back was in severe pain. When he looked up, he saw the monster roaring and raising its claws to slap him.

"Boom! Boom!" Two consecutive hand cannon shots knocked down the tall figure. Bruce used the hand cannon at the risk of cave collapse.

"Lieutenant! Are you okay?!" Dacita stood up with difficulty as he looked at the monster's heaving body and asked dryly, "How many of us are left?"

"Lieutenant...Besides you and me, there are three others who are still breathing. The others..." Bruce swallowed his sobs hard because he didn't dare to see how his comrades died.

The fear and sadness that had always been there pierced their defenses from the inside out when the monster fell. Dashita sat down dejectedly and subconsciously reached into his pocket, but it was still empty.

What else does he have now?

The searchlight that fell to the ground was still trying to emit a dim light. In the silent air, Bruce stepped forward and stretched out his hand.

With Bruce's help, they dealt the monster the final blow. Only after confirming that the monster was completely dead did everyone completely relieve themselves of their fatigue.

"Who's there!?" Dashita was very sensitive to the stalker, who had actually taken advantage of their carelessness to get close to the monster's corpse!

The man turned and ran without saying a word. Dashita immediately grabbed his sword and chased after him. He saw that the guy seemed to have extracted something from the monster's corpse.

There were indeed other exits in the cave leading to the outside world, but they could not accommodate a monster as large as this one. Dacita followed the man closely and gradually distanced himself from Bruce and the others.

There was a faint light ahead, but the man suddenly stopped. Dashita looked at him warily, holding the sword in his hand and not daring to relax.

"...Actually, I wanted to say this a long time ago, Lieutenant, you sometimes push yourself too hard." The man slowly turned around, and in the light, Dashita saw the other person's hair color clearly. When he heard the other person's voice, he couldn't help but widen his eyes:

"Lexa!? What are you doing!?"

"Lieutenant, you shouldn't have chased me." Green-haired Liberi said coldly, "You are a good superior, so even if you destroyed my mercenary group, I have no complaints, but you shouldn't have chased me..."

"Your mercenary group?!" Dashita's mind went blank. "Impossible! You are——"

"Rexxar Charles. The real master of the Iron Eagle Mercenaries. It shouldn't be too much for me to take back some samples from my men, right?" Rexxar shrugged.

"Why didn't you kill me when you and I were besieged by the Iron Eagle Mercenaries?"

"There's no need to expose yourself because of a good superior." Rexxar smiled, and his expression quickly changed, "But you're tired of living and want to die. It's impossible for me to let you go even if I want to."

"Why are you--" Without any hesitation, a knife cut off Dashita's words. Rexxar's skills were completely different from his usual performance. He slowly pulled the blade out of Dashita's abdomen and said softly:

"…Charles, my father, is a cowardly and ruthless man, with inappropriate ambitions. He ordered me to bring back some samples of the 'cargo' without your knowledge, in an attempt to learn the Iron Duke's intentions in advance—"

"I can't go against my father. All my power is given by him, and I don't want to lose it."

"I'm sorry to say goodbye, Lieutenant."

Dashita fell on his back, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. His vision gradually blurred, but his memories slowly emerged.

He and his wife and son had a picnic on that leisurely afternoon. The sun was warm, the fragrance of grass and trees filled the air, and the familiar laughter filled the air. The empty space on the picnic blanket had been waiting for him for a long time.

The voices of Bruce and others gradually faded away, and Dacita hugged his wife and children once again.